The national average Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) in Nigeria has surged by 46.2 percent over the first eight months of 2024, surpassing both general inflation and food inflation rates, according to a recent report. 

The latest findings from the ‘Cost of Healthy Diet’ report, published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, indicate that the average cost of a healthy diet rose to N1,255 per adult per day in August, up from N858 reported in January and N786 in December 2023. 

Key contributors to this increase in CoHD include Legumes, Nuts and Seeds, Starchy Staples, and Vegetables. However, there was a slight month-on-month decrease of 0.8 percent compared to July 2024, when the cost was N1,265. Notably, the price of vegetables fell by 14.5 percent on a monthly basis.

In August 2024, Nigeria's headline inflation rate decreased to 32.15 percent from 33.40 percent in the previous month, driven by a decline in prices of tomatoes, pepper, yam, and other food items. Food inflation, a major component of overall inflation, also decreased to 37.52 percent in August, down from 39.53 percent in July.

Further analysis of the report shows that the average CoHD was highest in the South West region at N1,554 per adult per day, while the North West recorded the lowest at N1,014. Ogun, Lagos, and Rivers States had the highest costs, with N1,641, N1,615, and N1,572 respectively, whereas Katsina, Kaduna, and Sokoto reported the lowest costs at N880, N951, and N980.

At the zonal level, the South West Zone had the highest average CoHD at N1,554 per day, followed by the South-South Zone at N1,381 per day. The North West Zone recorded the lowest average cost at N1,041 per day.